Lexus LM 350H Review - First Class Luxury Transportation
Certain cars are built for certain jobs, like commuting, school run, people carrier, sporty, cruising, off-roading, or posing. There’s something for everyone.
And then there’s this Lexus LM 350H.
If you are someone who ferries VVIPs around, or consider yourself to be a VVIP, then you need to have a serious look at this vehicle.
It’s big and it’s sumptuous. It’s tempting to assume that it’s based on a van (a bit like the Mercedes V-Class), but it isn’t. The underpinnings come from the excellent Lexus RX SUV. Build quality is stunning. The only serious competition comes from the select variety of vehicles you’ll see outside Harrods waiting for some well-heeled clientele such as S and V-Class Mercs, 7 Series Beemers and long wheelbase Range Rovers. A select bunch.
You can have a couple of seating arrangements in the Lexus: two up front, and then either a couple of truly enormous rear captain’s chairs which can recline to make it close to being in bed — Lexus refers to them as private jet seats. Or you can have a seven-seat setup. The middle row continues as a pair of single seats, while the third row is three seats which can be stowed.
Driving Experience & Powertrain
The ride is uncannily smooth, even a touch floaty. Only the biggest potholes will unsettle any finely coiffured hair. If you need anything with a better ride, you’ll be moving into Rolls-Royce territory. Yep, it really is that good.
In terms of the oily stuff, power comes from a 292bhp 2.5-litre 4-pot hybrid petrol engine which gives a 0-60mph time of just under 9.0 seconds. Your top speed is 118mph and economy is in the region of 40 mpg. Everything goes via a CVT gearbox, which works well and changes smoothly but suffers from the usual CVT problem of allowing the revs to rise rapidly and create a bit of an undignified racket for short periods when you need a burst of acceleration. You’ll have to be gentle with the throttle if you don’t want to waken your occupants. At town speeds, the LM trundles along using electric power only. All-wheel drive comes as standard.
If you are the driver, the Lexus LM belies its size. It’s quite good to drive and okay, there’s a bit of roll if you corner quickly, but that’s not the style of driving for which this vehicle is built. Anyway, the driver isn’t the important part of the equation with the LM, it’s how the folk in the back feel. More about them very shortly because, with a vehicle like this, it’s all about the passengers, not the person up front who’s probably being paid to drive.
Price & Trims
And I know we’re talking here about this car being aimed at companies that have a top whack car for ferrying directors and shareholders around, or chauffeur businesses, top hotels, embassies, airlines and some football clubs, but the Lexus LM also makes for really good family transportation. If you have the means (it costs from £97,645 - May 26) and are looking for something luxurious to whisk the family away on holiday, then the Lexus LM is a cracking alternative.
Oh, and just in case you were wondering, LM stands for Luxury Mover — it does what it says on the tin.
It’s also worth mentioning that a luxury vehicle with this sort of design is a rarity. Whenever you see a bunch of Hollywood stars rocking up for an awards ceremony, they’re inevitably seen climbing out of a limo saloon, which can sometimes appear rather ungainly, depending on what sort of garb they’re wearing. However, in the Lexus LM, that’s not a problem. The driver can hit a button and the rear doors (either side) will slide open and the occupants can simply step out.
As for what you get included as standard, it depends on whether you go for the ‘lesser’ LM or the Takumi version. Okay, if you opt for the Takumi trim, you bump up the price to £117,645, but let’s face it, when you’re mixing with this sort of rarified air, what’s a few grand here and there? Your average A-lister won’t notice.
Interior
I shan’t go through the normal stuff you would expect in a car of this type because you get everything that and you’d get bored reading the very long list, so let’s concentrate on what those who frequent private jets and only ever turn left when they board an aircraft get in every LM and in particular, the top-spec Takumi version.
And no, I’m not making up some of this stuff. For example, one of the drive modes is for Rear Comfort. The car adjusts its suspension settings so that it always stays level…it doesn’t pitch or dive when braking or accelerating. Spooky. In a 4-seat configuration, the rear seats are separated from the front two by a partition. The upper part of the screen features a window which can be lowered and dimmed. Below that you’ll find an enormous 48-inch entertainment screen which feeds 23 Mark Levinson speakers around the cabin. There’s an HDMI port so that you can plug in your own kit. In 7-seat configuration, there’s a small 14-inch screen which folds down from the roof.
Both rear seats get a small iPad style tablet which allows adjustment of the seats, sunroof, window and sunroof blinds, climate and audio system. Each seat has a table which lifts out of the armrest. Reach forward from the two rear seats and you’ll find a small fridge.
A Lexus Climate Concierge ensures that the passenger compartment stays fresh and at the desired temperature.
And you get acres of room. If you opt for the 4-seat Takumi version, those captain-style rear seats will fold very close to being flat. A foot rest rises from the front of the cushion. If you’ve ever been lucky enough to fly Business or First Class on an airliner, you’ll be right at home in the Lexus LM Takumi.
Concluding Thoughts
Families will love the Lexus LM 350H in 7-seat guise, but most of these cars will be kitted out in 4-seat Takumi trim. The employee in the driver’s seat will waft you around in the pinnacle of luxury and, because it’s a very large SUV, it offers more space and versatility than you’ll ever hope to get in a top-end saloon. As I mentioned earlier, if you want something more comforting and cosseting, you’ll need to use a Rolls-Royce. Praise doesn’t come any higher.
words: Graham Courtney
pictures: Lexus
